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MAT 187A – BASIC ARITHMETIC Spring 2012
INSTRUCTOR: Helen Shen PHONE: 530-541-4660, Extension 364 E-MAIL: shen@ltcc.edu OFFICE HOURS: Room A204 Mon. & Wed. 10:40 – 11:00 AM & 12:40 – 1:30 PM Tue. & Thurs. 12:30 – 1:30 PM Fri. 10:40 – 11:00 AM & 12:40 – 1:00 PM LTCC MATH
PAGE:
http://www.ltcc.edu/academics.asp?scatID=5&catID=34 TEXTBOOK (OPTIONAL):
Required Software License: It is required to have a software license to use the software MyMathLab in this class. Students have two choices. The first choice is to purchase the textbook from the bookstore. The textbook comes with the software license for an additional cost of approximately $5. The second choice is to purchase the license alone either from the bookstore or online at coursecompass.com. The license gives you access to the textbook online. This is a more economical choice, but is only recommended to students who have online access and feel comfortable reading a computer screen instead of a traditional book. If you purchase a used textbook, you will also need to purchase the software license. The software license is valid as long as the student uses the same textbook; the student may need to call the tech support to obtain another access code if the student takes the same class again later. Course website: www.coursecompass.com (MyMathLab)
Our course id is shen16206
For assistance
call 1-800-677-6337.
Mon – Fri 5:00 AM – 5:00 PM & Sunday 2:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Online assistance is available 24 hours every day at:
247pearsoned.custhelp.com COUSE DESCRIPTION: The purpose of this course is to teach students the skills of basic Arithmetic; in particular we will cover whole numbers, fractions, and an introduction to decimals. In reality, you have probably already seen this material somewhere in your educational past but may have forgotten it or never really understood it when it was first presented. In this class, our goal is to fill in the gaps of your knowledge about arithmetic and to help you get the “big picture” so that it will all fit together in a way which makes sense to you and that you are able to apply it to “real life” problems. This course is an extended version of Math 187A in which we will include a component of study skills to assist you in being successful in this math class and others which you will take in the future.
This is actually two six-week classes (each receiving its own
grade): Ř Math 187A covers whole numbers, fractions, and an introduction to decimals. Ř Math 187B covers the rest of decimals, percents, and an introduction to algebra. CALCULATORS: Calculators are not allowed in this class on exams or the final. TUTORING: Tutoring is available in the Math Success Center (MSC) in Room 201. Students will earn 0.5 point toward the total grade for every 10 hours in MSC or DRC. However, if any student misses two or more classes, no lab credit will be granted. STUDENT LEARNING 1. Perform arithmetic operations with whole numbers, fractions, and decimals. OUTCOMES:
2. Translate written language into mathematical statements. 4. Apply study skills learned in
this class to studying in this class.
GRADING POLICY: Method
of Student Evaluation
Homework (Online, 21 sections, 4 points each)
84 points
Study Skills Component (16 points)
16 points
Quizzes (Two, Online, 10 points each)
20 points
Exams (Two, In Class, 100 points each)
200 points
Final (Covers entire course content, 140 points)
140 points
And,
your final needs to be above 56 points
Your letter grade will be based on your percentage.
A
90-100%
B
80-89%
C
70-79%
D
60-69%
F
less than 60%
CHECKING YOUR
You
can check your grade at any time in MyMathLab where you will be doing
GRADE ONLINE:
your
homework. I will drop a student from the class if the student misses two classes
or more and is unable to keep up with the learning.
HOMEWORK:
Homework will be done online using MyMathLab. Due dates are listed
for you when you go on line to do the assignments.
Feel free to consult a fellow classmate, a tutor, your instructor, or
anyone else for assistance on the homework. In addition, the computer will give
you help with any problem, show you an example of a similar problem, and in some
cases show you a video of someone teaching how to do that type of problem.
You can work on homework after the due date but there are penalties for
being late (see the make-up policy below).
If you don’t have the internet
connection at home, you can print
them out in school at Math Lab, TLC, or D-wing Lab, work the problem on the
papers, and enter the answers in school.
QUIZZES:
Quizzes will be taken online in
MyMathLab. You can take each quiz up to three times, and the highest score will
be used. Before you take the quiz, make sure that you have done your homework
for the sections covered in the quiz, read the appropriate sections in the
textbook, looked at the video(s), and received assistance from either the
computer, or your instructor on any difficult topics. If you do not take a quiz
on time, a zero will be recorded for that grade. EXAM POLICY:
Grading will be based on progress
towards the final answer, and the demonstration of understanding of the concept
that is being tested. The more you show me with steps and detail, the better
your chances for partial credit. You provide me the communication and
detail in your answers; and I will give you the best grade I can based on that
communication and answer. You can use one page of notes, front and back, for
quizzes, exams and the final. MAKE-UP POLICY:
For Exams and the Final,
make-up is possible if the instructor is
contacted in advance and the absence is excuse; there is a 10%
penalty if the absence is not excused. The make-up test needs to be taken before
the next class. Homework will
be accepted late up to one week after it is assigned for half credit; the online
homework will be closed after the due date, and I will
reopen it next day morning for
another week for the late homework. If
you take the make-up test at TLC,
you need to make an appointment at TLC
24 hours ahead by going to TLC, call (530)541-4660 x 740, or e-mail
TLCProctors@ltcc.edu. COMMUNICATION
You
can communicate with me either by coming to class or office hours, sending POLICY:
an
e-mail, or calling on the phone. I will respond to your e-mails in a timely
manner, and I will do my best to return your calls (you need to make sure
to leave your number clearly). If you miss the class, it is your responsibility
to pick up the class handouts or obtain the information either from your
classmates or from me during the office hours.
·
I
have students work together to help each other. Please feel free to ask me
directly if you like to work with me one-on-one.
·
Please come see me if you do not understand my policies.
·
Since English is my secondary language, please
be sure to ask
me if you have any difficulty to understand math due to my accent. I will be
happy to clarify. LEARNING
If you have a
certifiable learning disability that may affect your performance in DISABILITIES:
this class, be sure to discuss your
special needs with me during the first week of class. Learning
disabilities will be accommodated. HOW TO SUCCEED
1)
Read your textbook before class. IN A MATH CLASS: 2) Choose to attend all class periods and be on time. 3)
Exchange
names and phone number with classmates.
4) Learn from your mistakes and be
patient with yourself.
5) Don’t be afraid of asking questions.
6) Know how to get help if you need it.
7) Organize your class materials.
8) Do your homework.
9) Check
your work.
10) Hand in assignments on time.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY (CHEATING):
Academic dishonesty of any form will not be tolerated.
Students caught cheating on exams or quizzes will receive a score of zero on the
assignment for the first offense and a course grade of F for the second offense. Cheating will be defined as but not limited to: (1) using any method to copy another’s work on an exam, quiz, or final (2) directly copying another student’s homework assignment (3) using any method other than your own honest efforts to complete exams, quizzes, the final, or homework assignments. The following activities are NOT cheating: (1) collaborating with other students to complete homework assignments (2) working with math tutors or academic coaches to complete homework assignments (3) working with other students to study for exams, quizzes or the final.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:
If you need help paying for your books or other expenses, call our financial
aid officer, America Ramirez, at 541-4660 x236, email her at
Ramirez@ltcc.edu, or drop by A100.
WHERE TO FIND A COMPUTER ON CAMPUS:
Computers are available for your use in the following locations on campus:
§
§
§
Open Labs in the D-wing which have available times posted by the door of each
lab.
* Both the LAC and the MSC are in room 201.
Tentative Lecture Schedule for Math 187A
Be
sure to use class time, office hours, and the MSC to get all of your questions
answered.
Be sure that you are
registered for Math 187B which begins next week. Math 187A Study
Skills Component Sixteen points of your grade in this class is based on the study skills component. You can earn those twenty-one points in the following manner:
Study Skills Assignment: Individual
Counseling, (16 points)
Due May 3, 2011 a. Make an appointment for one hour to meet with any counselor. b. After your appointment, you need to write a half-page summary of your meeting with a counselor of what was most and least helpful about the counseling appointment. Turn this summary to Helen by May 3. Be sure to turn in your report TYPED. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||